Do you use Strong Passwords?

For many years I used one single password everywhere. It was a dictionary word. That is a very bad practice.

No, I didn't get hacked or lose anything. But I have changed my ways. Now I use a Strong Password.

Instead of something like "garden" or "teacher" you should use something like Oplu*Bytner52 orMhall84wfwwaS!. The last one is the first letters of "Mary had a little lamb 84 whose fleece was white as Snow!" Include upper case, lower case, numbers and symbols. Don't use words found in the dictionary. Keep a copy of passwords in your wallet or purse. But on the little note card put lots of fake passwords, too. And you could write the correct one backwards.

Strengthen your passwords now. In my next post I will tell of a good online Password Safe called Last Pass

Brent

You can call me about computer matters for free: 708-848-3351. I can fix your computer at very low cost.

Passwords are a balance between making them secure (long and random) and making them easy to remember. Unfortunately, easy to remember is usually easy to guess and reuse at every site. The phrase technique is a great way to start making more complex passwords.

But how do create a different password for every site? A new phrase for every site? No, you can take the pattern above and mix in a few characters from the site name. Insert a "g" or a "go" after the 84 in the pattern above for a Google password. Add "fa" after the 84 for your Facebook password. This will protect you if your password is ever stolen. It will only be the password for one site and not every site (including your online banking) you use!

Speaking of online banking, start by upgrading your passwords at your online banking sites. Secure the important stuff first and use the long passwords with your important stuff. Besides banking, your email account is also pretty important. Most site will let your reset any password just by sending you an email. If someone has access to your email, your password strength doesn't matter any more.

I look forward to hearing what you have to say about LastPass. I've been using RoboForm for years and have also started using LastPass. I'm a huge fan of both.